LinkedIn- why 100 million users can't be wrong..

A great blog post from Robert Clay about The power of LinkedIn

I've certainly found it useful, particularly in South Africa. Any thoughts?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Posted on 02:15 by Rubysfuture and filed under | 1 Comments »

The fall and fall of the search engine

More than 100 million less searches carried out on search engines in the UK fromJuly-August. 40 million less searches carried out August-September. So what's happening? the rise and rise of social media, that's what. Because the increasing trend for those in the know is to find the answers and information they're looking for on the social web. Although Google remains the king of all search methods, its lead is gradually being eroded by the likes of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
So what is the real significance of this shift? Those in the know say its this; Social media is becoming more and more important in driving traffic to websites that search engine optimisation, and it might be that the days of search engine optimisation (SEO) are slipping into the past. Is it worth businesses spending hard earned cash on SEO when there might not be any return on this investment?

Probably not. Indeed, it all points towards money spent on social media being a far better bet.
Posted on 10:37 by Rubysfuture and filed under , , , , , , | 0 Comments »

Social metrics-a science or still an art?


There's always a lot of talk about social media and the bottom line. Just how do you effectively measure the ROI when looking at your social media costs. Although its often said that social media engagement is a necessity rather than a luxury these days, its still important to be able to justify those Pounds, Rands and Dollars spent on social media.

So how do you do it? is social media still rather more art than science? or can we nail it down with the metrics? So-called 'soft' indicators such as engagement relate to the numbers of followers on Twitter, or 'likes' on Facebook are cited by many as indicators of success. But only twelve percent of users and sixteen percent of social media consultants can cite bottom line improvement. These figures are perhaps subjective but maybe that's why art trumps science, at least at the moment. Or perhaps it always will as fickle social media consumers hop from channel to channel depending upon the latest fashion. We've seen the fall from grace of former behemoths like MySpace and BeBo, as well as start-ups which fail to set the world on fire, like the recently closed Scoville...

Have a look at this article for a closer look at the stats.
And if you want some more advice on social media measurement, there's a good article here from Brass Tack Thinking.

(image from ivisitorguide.blogspot.com )
Posted on 11:40 by Rubysfuture and filed under , , , , , , , | 0 Comments »

What do you need from a social media consultant?


Ok, so you've taken the plunge and entered the world of social media. Your business is on-line and active across the social web and you are starting to get some interest. A few likes on Facebook, some followers on Twitter and you're ready to take the next step and recruit a social media expert to boost your profile and hopefully bring in new business.

So, what do you look for in a social media consultant? and how will you maximise your rate of return (ROI on what might be a substantial investment. After all, its notoriously difficult to quantify success or failure with social media compared to traditional profit and loss accounting.

I came across a great article recently which hits the nail on the head on the subject of social media consultants. I think it sums up the qualities of the ideal social media expert your business needs. Have a look here and see if you agree....

( image used under creative commons licence. Original from theadaptivemarketer.com )
Posted on 14:34 by Rubysfuture and filed under , , , , | 0 Comments »

Gone digital, but will your customers remember you?


Are you losing business to your competitors because you are not visible enough?

Do you get the mix right for maximising sales?

It used to be said that a potential customer needed seven reinforcements before they'd even remember your product, and make a purchase when needed. Now, with the digital revolution firmly in place, its over twenty. Yes, twenty! Your potential customers will need to have seen this amount of 'reinforcers' before they remember your particular brand when considering where to purchase.
People do more research than ever nowadays. Each customer will have started on line and looked at at least eight sources before making a decision. If you're not visible, then you're going to miss out on potential business. This article from marketing expert Barry Moltz shows you some great tips for getting noticed by potential customers.

Any surprises? I bet there are at least three you've not thought of in this article. Hat tip to SmartBrief for the lead. Image courtesy of Mashable.com
Posted on 05:43 by Rubysfuture and filed under | 0 Comments »

Five tips for top leadership

A great article here for existing and aspiring leaders everywhere...



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Posted on 13:24 by Rubysfuture and filed under | 1 Comments »

Can you afford to ignore LinkedIn?


LinkedIn has more than doubled in size (OVER 160 million Members) in the past year with one user added every single second! Its something which has been overshadowed a little bit by the rise of Facebook and Twiter, but, as these facts below show, you ignore it at your peril!

* Executives from ALL Fortune 500 Companies are registered on LinkedIn!
45% of LinkedIn’s members are considered the major decision makers for their companies. (Twitter and Facebook account for only 24-29%!)

*LinkedIn holds the record for the Highest Average Household Income over all other Social Networking sites at over $109,000 per member!

*There are no distractions! On LinkedIn, you’ll only find high-caliber individuals with a business mindset, focused on networking for results!

*With the IPO of LinkedIn, it is now valued at over 10 Billion Dollars and interest and awareness are at an all time high.


So, have a look at this video, from expert coach Lewis Howes, and think about how LinkedIn might help your networking and your business to grow....
Posted on 04:07 by Rubysfuture and filed under , , , , | 0 Comments »